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Innovation Index: Startup Games. Startup Weekend and everything else startup for March 6
We Create Here was an initiative within the Gazette Company to develop evolving narratives and authentic conversations throughout Iowa's Creative Corridor. read more
Welcome to the Innovation Index. This is our spot to round up links and stories from around the web relating to startups, innovation and entrepreneurship in Iowa's Creative Corridor. You can help! Email me news and notes.
News and Notes:
Happy Startup Weekend! Nine teams were formed last night, after more than 40 pitches that covered a huge range of industries and business types. As of this morning, they are (in no particular order - full post coming soon)
- Career and Company - matching people to passions
- Valor - personal security device for young women
- Lunch Line - find restaurant specials every day
- AP Study app - help high school students prepare
- Sunday Dinner - coordinate the family meal, schedules, etc.
- Perfect Date - find the best things to do in your budget
- Social Runner - connect with other fitness enthusiasts
- Empower - people support each other digitally
- Caregiver service - helping gather resources when caring for a loved one
These will almost certainly change - and that's the fun! Startup Weekend is all about learning and validating. Follow #SWCR15 on Twitter for all the latest.
The University of Iowa JPEC has announced a new event for students, coming this spring: The Startup Games. It looks a lot like a Startup Weekend, but just for students and they have to pre-apply. (JPEC)
Finalists for Dream Big Grow Here were announced on Twitter yesterday - check out the categories for Retail/Wholesale, Hospitality/Restaurants, Ag Innovation, Manufacturing/Bioscience/IT, Professional Services, and pre-revenue. These are the companies that will go on to pitch at EntreFEST for up to $15,000. Congrats!
Interested in accelerators? Check out what four program managers from around the Midwest - including the Iowa Startup Accelerator, NMotion, Straight Shot and the Global Insurance Accelerator - had to say to startups last week in Des Moines. (Des Moines Register)
The Des Moines Register has quite a bit of new reporting on Internet access in Iowa. Start here: Why isn't Des Moines a gigabit city?
#IowaBrag, the social campaign from ICAD Group, Sculpt and Creative Mellen, was recently honored at the American Advertising Awards in Cedar Rapids. Kudos! (ICAD Group)
Mark your calendar:
- March 10, 17: How to Really Start Your Own Business, by SCORE of East Central Iowa and the SBDC. Information on eastcentraliowa.score.org.
- March 12: Advanced Manufacturing Job Fair. Information on eventbrite.com.
- March 19: Unleash your inner hero by Cedar Rapids coaches collective. Information on eventbrite.com.
- March 26: Digital Strategy Bootcamp by Brand Driven Digital. Information on eventbrite.com.
- March 27-29: Dev/Iowa Hackathon - no idea or technology is off limits. Information on deviowa.com.
- April 3-4: Mission Creek Tech+Innovation. Information on missionfreak.com.
- April 16: Kirkwood Business/IT career fair. Information on kirkwood.edu, employers can request to exhibit here.
- Send any startup community events I missed to sarah.binder@sourcemedia.net.
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